Aquatics is often perceived as a space lacking diversity, yet the water should be a place where everyone feels welcome, regardless of race, background, or socioeconomic status. Unfortunately, for many Black and Brown communities, participation in aquatic sports like synchronized swimming and diving is rare. As someone who personally navigated these waters, I know how essential it is to bring more diversity into these fields—not just for representation, but for the benefits these sports offer to all.
My Experience in Synchronized Swimming
During high school, I had the unique experience of being part of a synchronized swimming team. I was one of only two Black girls in the entire group. At 15, I stood next to a 9-year-old girl, both of us navigating an aquatic space where we were the exception, not the norm. This experience taught me resilience, but also made me aware of how stark the lack of representation was in aquatics.
Synchronized swimming is a graceful, demanding sport that combines strength, rhythm, and endurance. Yet, its lack of diversity often means many Black and Brown children don’t have the opportunity to engage in it. The absence of people who look like them can discourage them from even trying. But when diversity is embraced, synchronized swimming can become a sport where all children feel confident and capable.
Diversity in Diving: Breaking Barriers
Diving, much like synchronized swimming, also suffers from a lack of diversity. It’s a sport that requires courage, precision, and skill—qualities that are universal. Yet, the barriers to entry, including lack of access to pools, specialized training, and financial resources, mean that many children of color never get the chance to explore it.
However, divers like Katura Horton-Perinchief and Yona Knight-Wisdom have shown that with the right opportunities, athletes from all backgrounds can thrive in this sport. Imagine what could happen if more Black and Brown children were introduced to diving?
The opportunities for personal growth, athleticism, and even scholarship opportunities would skyrocket.
Why Diversity Matters
The importance of diversity in aquatics goes beyond representation. It’s about inclusion, safety, and opportunity. Aquatic sports offer vital life skills—water safety, confidence, teamwork, and discipline. These are skills that help everyone, but when certain groups are excluded, they miss out on all these benefits. Bringing more diversity into synchronized swimming, diving, and other aquatic sports will not only break down cultural barriers but will also foster a healthier and more inclusive aquatic community.
Creating Opportunities for All
We need to be proactive in encouraging children from all backgrounds to dive into aquatic sports. This can start with community outreach, scholarships, and representation in media to show young people that the pool is a space for everyone. By ensuring more children of color have access to pools, coaches, and swimming programs, we can cultivate a future where synchronized swimmers and divers reflect the true diversity of our communities.
Support Diversity in Aquatics
At Live. Love. Swim!, LLC, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where all children and adults feel welcome in the water. Donate today – Join us in our mission to promote diversity in aquatics by supporting programs that make swimming, synchronized swimming, and diving accessible to all. Together, we can ensure that no child is left on the poolside.
Live. Love. Swim!, LLC 